SuperLiga: Revs edge Dynamo in SL final

I guess it isn't always about the Benjamins, as a spirited SuperLiga final ended with the New England Revolution claiming a 6-5 win on penalty kicks at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night, despite the specter of the past week's bickering over the tournaments $1 million purse.

The Revolution twice fought back from a goal deficit, both in regular time and overtime, to force the match into penalties, where Matt Reis went from almost goat to certain hero. With the PKs knotted at one apiece, Reis sailed his attempt high over the goal, opening the door to a Houston win, but Reis redeemed his miss by stopping Houston's Dwayne DeRosario attempt. Then Reis saved Brian Ching's attempt on Houston's next kick, but Dynamo keeper Pat Onstad equaled him, saving Khano Smith's attempt. In sudden death, with the score 6-5, Ricardo Clark missed his attempt off the crossbar to give the Revs the SuperLiga trophy.

The first half saw each side trade goals, with Nate Jaqua scoring the first of the match in the 18th minute and then Steve Ralston responding just before halftime. The match remained deadlocked despite several chances by each side until overtime, when the clubs again traded goals in the first session of extra time. Kei Kamara out jumped Reis for the go-ahead goal, but midfield general Shalrie Joseph equalized with a header of his own six minutes later.

With controversy regarding the purse for the winning team, including a threat by both squads to split the money and a stern response to the Players' Union by the league's commissioner, many were wondering how it would affect the effort in the game. But apparently, the competitive spirit bested any animosity toward the competition organizers and MLS. It also helped that the Revs have been trying to get the big, orange monkey off their backs for some time, losing to Houston in the 2006 MLS Cup (on penalty kicks) and again in last year's MLS Cup.

The Revolution, who appear poised to make a return to this year's MLS CUp, will look to get their second piece of hardware in the US Open Cup, which resumes play next week. The Revs take on DC United at RFK Stadium in the first semi-final on August 12.